ASK IRA: Would Love-Whiteside be a viable trade proposition?

Sun Sentinel's Ira Winderman and EmmaKate Austin talk about the Miami Heat's Jan. 25 game against the Sacramento Kings.

Q: Ira what do you think Hassan Whiteside for Kevin Love? We get a 3-point shooter, he is a decent rebounder, plus he will love to stick it to LeBron James. The salaries are similar and he only has two years left on his contract? Is it possible? -- Pito.

A: Is it possible? Sure. What do I think? Who cares? It's what Pat Riley thinks. I actually believe the Heat would be more likely to move on something like this than the Cavaliers. Put it this way, after going after Kevin Durant and Gordon Hayward the past two offseasons, I am sure Riley would have gone all-in this summer had Love been a free agent. With Bam Adebayo and Kelly Olynyk on the roster, the Heat would have other options available on the middle, perhaps even adding a low-cost shot blocker in the offseason. The one box that Love does not check off for Riley would be defense. And that could prove problematic when attempting to play Love alongside Olynyk. But you still would have James Johnson for late-game defense at power forward. I'm not sure that LeBron would necessarily sign off on Whiteside, with Hassan's up-and-down play. I'd almost be curious to see how Dwyane Wade would have to say. An argument could be made that it could potentially be a win-win move. But since you ask, yes, I would be tempted.

Q: They should just put out all the best rookies and sophomores in the Rising Stars Challenge instead of World vs. USA. Bam Adebayo could've made it from that perspective. -- Teri.

A: I agree. Dillon Brooks? From the Grizzlies? At times such as this, with so much divisiveness in our world, do we really need to delineate U.S. players from international players? And if you don't want to play rookies vs. second-year players, then have a draft of the candidates, perhaps even televise it, unlike the process with the All-Stars. This is not to say Bam was snubbed. It would have been a close call with other omitted players, as well. But the format, in something that remains meaningful to the players, should be more about best available talent.

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Q: With no Heat player being named as an All-Star, does that give more credit to Erik Spoelstra for coaching a team with zero "All-Stars" and still being a Top 4 team in the East? -- Robert, Falls Church, Va.

A: More credit? No. He already has just about as much credit as a coach can have, appreciated by his peers, respected by his players, and likely headed to the Basketball Hall of Fame. Questions about the Heat might start in a lot of places, but coach is not one of them.